Roscoe Club

[Richard Walters]

Dave, I have a set of Nordstrand NJ5FS installed in my redwood century custom that I got from Greg. I got the bass and the replacement pups from Greg. The bass came with Barts and an Aggie OBP-3 preamp. The Barts were a bit pingy but the Nordstrands are perfect to my ears. And the pole pieces line up perfectly

 

[Dave Siff]

Thanks, Richard! That's good to hear.

 

[Ryan L.]

I've replaced both the pickups and the preamp in my Century J.

I did the pickups first, and the difference was very substantial. I went with the Nordstrand NJ5F single coils, and they REALLY opened the bass up. I could have just left it alone and been completely happy with it........

But, I decided to change out the preamp as well, and swapped in a Nordstrand 3b-4b preamp. The difference there was more subtle than the pickup swap, but it was a slight upgrade (to my ears). The boost on the Nordstrand preamp seems to be more "musical", for lack of a better term. It really smoothed out the top end in the bass----still nice and bright, but a bit less harsh. Low boost doesn't seem to go from flat to holy poopie as quickly as the Bart pre did. Mids are very usable, but I usually don't have to boost mids on that bass. The passive tone control is something I probably won't really use, but, it's on there if I want it I guess.

 

[Dave Siff]

I got the NJ5F single-coils also, they should be here tomorrow (thanks Greg!) I played the bass last night with my neighborhood band, and it sounds great as is, but I'm looking forward to "lifting the blanket" off it a little. I'll probably leave the Bart preamp in there, I only use the mid boost.

 

[JOME77]

I got the NJ5F single-coils also, they should be here tomorrow (thanks Greg!) I played the bass last night with my neighborhood band, and it sounds great as is, but I'm looking forward to "lifting the blanket" off it a little. I'll probably leave the Bart preamp in there, I only use the mid boost.

Yeah Dave, that mid boost on the Bart just kills.
IMO that's what makes the Bart 3-band pre so awesome in a fretless. So many juicy mid tones lurking in that preamp! It can even cop a nice "almost" fretless tone in a fretted with the bridge p/u.

 

[ArtechnikA]

IMO that's what makes the Bart 3-band pre so awesome in a fretless.

Well, jeez, _now_ I'm confused !
You just about had me sold on one of the 'last remaining' Demeter and now this glowing endorsement for the Bart pre which, truth be told, I never found lacking but I was tempted by the siren song of 'better...'

 

[SteveC]

Every bass I have liked (Roscoe and others like Modulus, Lakland and my own mods) have had the Bart 3-band mid select preamp.

 

[Ryan L.]

Don't get me wrong, I still really dig the Bart preamp. I would have been very happy with the bass with the new pickups alone.

I had just really liked what I had read about the Nordstrand preamp, so I figured what the heck, I'll give it a try. And, it worked out well for me.

 

[JOME77]

Well, jeez, _now_ I'm confused !
You just about had me sold on one of the 'last remaining' Demeter and now this glowing endorsement for the Bart pre which, truth be told, I never found lacking but I was tempted by the siren song of 'better...'

lol

Sorry for the confusion. I love the Bart for fretless but I love the Demeter for fretted. I hope that clears it up.

 

[ClassicJazz]

I have been really, really enjoying playing this Century Standard fretless. Probably the nicest playing fretless I have ever owned. It almost plays itself! And 7.2 lbs! That is lighter than the Sadowsky basses I've owned!

 

[SteveC]

No finer fretless than a Roscoe. Period.

 

[Burwabit]

I REALLY want a Roscoe fretless now that I have a fretted Roscoe. Curious about opinions on soapbar Barts vs. the tightly spaced JB jazz barts!

 

[SteveC]

JB all the way! On a mahogany (maybe Spanish Cedar) body.

 

[Gard]

I REALLY want a Roscoe fretless now that I have a fretted Roscoe. Curious about opinions on soapbar Barts vs. the tightly spaced JB jazz barts!

I prefer the JB setup for fretless over everything else - the standard dual soap setup works great, but there's something just NASTY about the JB that works for me. Unlike SteveC, I prefer ash but that's because I prefer a REALLY aggressive tone (easier to back off the edginess/aggressiveness than to find myself needing more "oomph" and trying to add it). The basses with both mahogany and cedar bodies that I've heard with this combo have been great, if a bit "darker" than my personal preference.

 

[JOME77]

I REALLY want a Roscoe fretless now that I have a fretted Roscoe. Curious about opinions on soapbar Barts vs. the tightly spaced JB jazz barts!

Not to confuse you any further but the JJ jazz Barts located in the standard soap bar locations sound pretty good too. Same bridge sound as the JB setup but a little smoother when you blend in the neck p/u.

 

[Ryan L.]

Bart CB'S in the JB location for fretless works pretty damn good. .......

 

[Ryan L.]

Like this....

 

[Burwabit]

Some good options for sure. I became interested in JB Jazz after watching YouTube vids, and I'm leaning that way. Thanks for the comments. Damns I want me a Roscoe fretless.

I'm a total novice at this because I'm the second owner of my Roscoe, so forgive the dumb question. If I want to spec a new one, do I do that directly with Gard or through a retailer like Rocket Music?

 

[Burwabit]

Oh yea, I'm leaning towards a Century too.

 

[Exemonium]

The century is great. Some people say it's a bit big, I think it's just right. Then again, we're all different shapes and sizes, but I couldn't see me playing the others as easily.